Marion Kurtz has had a blast at the Berks County Area Agency on Aging’s annual dinner for years.
It’s a tradition the 97-year-old and her daughter Marcia Kurtz don’t plan on giving up.
“They’re really classy,” Marion Kurtz said of the DoubleTree by Hilton in Reading, where the event was held Saturday. “It’s elegant and everything.”
Marcia Kurtz has her own connection to the dinner — she said she used to deliver meals to seniors on Christmas.
“Now I’m a senior,” Marcia Kurtz said with a laugh.
Jessica Jones, director of the Berks Area Agency on Aging, said 195 seniors registered to eat at this year’s 54th annual dinner, and many of them would otherwise be spending the holiday alone.
Volunteers delivered 77 meals to seniors unable to attend, Jones said.
She thanked the volunteers and community partnerships that helped make the event possible.
“We have a lot of core volunteers that work behind the scenes to make this all happen every year,” Jones said.
Jones herself was manning the front lines at the dinner, along with her sons Brandon, 18, and Tyler, 19, who were serving food and attending to the needs of guests.
She said the dinner has taught her sons valuable lessons since they started assisting about a decade ago.
“One of the first years we did this, my youngest looked at me very genuinely and said ‘Mom, is there really this many people who don’t have somewhere to go this Christmas?’” Jones said. “It’s just that generosity and that Christmas spirit … you’re so used to having things, then you see people that really have a lot of needs.”
Brandon Jones said he’s motivated to help by seeing the difference that simply having a holiday meal can make for someone.
“Seeing the happiness and support we give them, even if it’s only one day, even if it’s just talking to them a little bit, seeing that happiness makes me come back,” Jones said.
Many seniors were decked out in holiday attire, including Tom Wisler, who got festive with a Santa hat, red shirt and sparkling Christmas tie.
Wisler was enjoying the day along with his friends for 30 years, Barbara Rhoads and Martin Beiada.
It was the trio’s first time coming to the event, and they were having a ball.
“It’s nice, I can’t believe how nice it really is,” Rhoads said. “For people that don’t have a (Christmas) meal, or don’t know if they have a meal, it’s just nice that there are places like this in Reading to go.”
Beiada was equally satisfied.
“It’s a pretty upbeat place. They have good décor, and the staff is pretty friendly,” Beiada said.
He said he’s been enjoying spending more time with Rhoads and Wisler lately.
The event also featured a guest who stopped by a few days early — Santa Claus was in attendance in full Christmas attire.
Kris Kringle mingled with guests in a characteristically jolly fashion, taking up residence in an armchair aside a Christmas tree in the dining hall.
Sen. Judy Schwank also stopped by the event to wish seniors a merry Christmas.
“I look forward to this every year, this is a real Christmas dinner, because there is so much Christmas spirit in this room,” Schwank said.
Debora Mateo said she looks forward to seeing old friends at the event every year — she said spending time with friends is her favorite part of Christmas.
Mateo dug into a hearty meal alongside longtime friends Mary Ernst and Sherry Yost.
“It’s very nice,” Mateo said of the dinner. “It’s good for everybody.”
Source: Berkshire mont
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